Mobile pipe cleaning apparatus



April 17, 1956 c. F. MORAIN 2,741,878

MOBILE PIPE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed March 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l O nI- HH *5 ':.t::::::: i

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INVENTOR CLIFFORD E MORAIN ATTORNEY April 17, 1956 c. F. MORAlN2,741,878 I MOBILE PIPE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed March 10, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CLIFFORD F. MORAIN ATTORNEY United States PatentMOBILE PIPE CLEANING APPARATUS Clifiord F. Morain, Youngstown, QhioApplication March 10, 1953, Serial No. 341,545 1 Claim. (CI. 51-14 Thepresent invention relates to pipe and tube cleaning apparatus of thetype frequently employed in the construction and maintenance of pipeline systems, and more particularly to certain improvements in suchapparatus whereby the same is adapted for convenient movement from onesite of operation to another as may be required in the construction orservicing of a cross-country pipe line, for example.

Cleaning and reconditioning of sections of pipe and tubing, it has beenfound, can be advantageously accomplished through the use of abrasiveblast equipment which is arranged to cause a continuous stream ofabrasive material to be impinged upon the exterior surface of th e pipewhile the latter moves relative to the stream. In particular, shotblasting, wherein discrete metal particles are impinged upon the surfaceof the pipe, has been found to be especially effective as a method ofcleaning dirt, oxide scale, and other matter from the exterior surfaceof pipe.

In the economical operation of shot blast equipment, howevenprovisionmust be made for separating the shot particles from the dirt and otherforeign matter so that the shot may be recovered and reused.Conventional shot blasting equipment therefore commonly combines with ablasting cabinet suitable separating means including elevator means forconveying the spent shot from the bottom of the cabinet to a receiver orhopper positioned above the blasting cabinet. The shot particles arethen subsequently controllably fed into the blast cabinet and impingedon the article or articles to be cleaned.

Generally, the apparatus required for separating spent shot particlesfrom other foreign matter, and particularly the elevator means employedtherewith, is of considerable size and bulk and When in assembledrelation is of considerable height. Thus, the use of this particulartype of apparatus in the manner herein contemplated has been thought tobe impractical due to substantial difiiculties in disassembling andstoring the apparatus for transportation from one site of operation toanother, it being understood that bridge underpasses and other places ofrestricted height clearance substantially preclude the transportation ofsuch apparatus in an assembled condition.

Accordingly, it is the ultimate object of the present invention toprovide a substantially self-contained mobile pipe cleaning unit,including a conventional shot blast cabinet and ancillary equipment,which is characterized by certain modifications and improvements bymeans of which the cleaning equipment may be readily disassembled topermit transportation of the apparatus from one site to another andquickly and easily reassembled at a new site of operation. The aboveobject also contemplates the provision of apparatus of the typedescribed which is so modified and arranged that a minimum amount ofdisassembly time and eifort is required to ready the apparatus fortransportation, and a like minimum of assembly time and effort isrequired to subsequently condition the apparatus for use at a new siteof operation.

More particularly, it is an object of the present inventionto provide anoperative combination of a complete abrasive blast plant, includingrecovery means for the abrasive material, with a motor vehicle ordetachable vehicle-drawn trailer whereby to provide a substantiallyself-contained mobile cleaning unit which may be easily transported fromplace to place.

In connection with the above object, it is a further object of thepresent invention to provide a substantially self-contained mobile pipecleaning unit comprising an abrasive blast plant and a motor vehicle ortrailer wherein the blast plant may be permanently assembled on the bedof the vehicle or trailer, but to a certain extent foldableor'collapsible with respect thereto so that in contemplation of movingthe unit from one place to another the plant may be readily collapsed topermit passage of the unit through restricted clearance areas.

More specifically, the present invention teaches the combining of acomplete abrasive blast plant with a vehicle or trailer in such mannerthat those parts of the plant which in assembled relation protrudeexcessively from the vehicle may be readily pivoted into inoperativepositions within or substantially within the peripheral limits of thevehicle so that the same may be moved freely from place to place.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a completesubstantially self-contained mobile cleaning unit of thetype abovedescribed which may be easily and economically constructed. And in thisrespect the invention contemplates the use in combination with convetntional blast plant apparatus of a conventional tractor drawnsemi-trailer which is modified in accordance with the teachings of theinvention to foldably or collapsibly mount the blast plant apparatus. Aswill hereafter become apparent I may profitably utilize this sametrailer in the additional capacity of a carrier for all or substantiallyall of the conveyor apparatus which is commonly employed in connectionwith pipe cleaning apparatus of the general type contemplated.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon full consideration of the following detailed specificationand accompanying drawing wherein is disclosed a certain preferredembodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a self-contained mobile pipe cleaningunit constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1,

showing the apparatus as in actual use;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion ofdFig ure 2illustrating details of construction thereof; an

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section view taken generally along line IVIVof Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing the numeral 1%) designates generally anelongated trailer which is preferably a conventional semi-trailer of thetype commonly utilized for transporting a plurality of automobiles fromplace, to place. In accordance with the teachings of the invention thetrailer 10 has been removed of its original superstructure so that onlythe lower shell portion 11, including the wheels 12, remain of 1 theoriginal apparatus. The shell portion 11 in accordance with usualconstruction, comprises a substantially flat load supporting bed 13 withrelatively low side walls 14-. The wheels 12 are conventionally locatednearthe rear of the elongated trailer.

Mounted on the trailer. 10 substantially directly above the wheels 12 isa conventional shot blast cabinet 15 which is supported above the bed 13by legs16. In accordance with usual construction the cabinet 15 isprovided with a funnel-like lower wall 17 having an opening therein anda duct 18 leading from the opening through which refuse and spentabrasive shot may flow from the cabinet. ,Also in accordance with usualconstruction the cabinetlfi is provided with a suitable hopper orreservoir 19 for shot or other abrasive material, which hopper ispositioned in fixed relation above the top wall of the cabinet. A motor20 (see Figure 2) is also mounted on the cabinet 15 for operating asuitable centrifugal device, not shown, forming a part of the cabinetassembly, so that shot from the hopper 19 may be injected into thecabinet in .a high velocity stream.

Cleaning of pipe, for example, in the cabinet 15 is accomplished bycausing separate lengths .of pipe 21 to pass transversely through thecabinet, the pipe being continuously rotated about its longitudinalaxis, so that all surface areas of the pipe are exposed to the highvelocity stream of abrasive material issuing from the hopper 19 into thecabinet. Openings 22 are provided in opposite side walls of the cabinet15 to permit passage of the pipe therethrough. And in accordance withpreferred practice suitable replaceable templates 23 may be provided forvarious sizes of pipe so that the openings 22 may be varied inconformity with size of the pipe being cleaned at any time. In thepreferred embodiment of the invention the openings are alignedtransversely of the principal axis of the elongated trailer 10 so thatpipe sections 21 may be moved transversely of the trader during cleaningoperations as illustrated in Figure 2.

To carry the pipe sections through the cabinet 15 1 provide suitableconveyor devices as shown at 24 and 24. And in the present embodiment ofthe invention motive power for the conveyors 24 and 24',is furnished byan electric motor 25 mounted on the rear side wall of the cabinet 15.The motor 25 is provided with power shafts Which extend from each endthereof and which are operatively con ected with individual variablespeed transmissions 26 and 27 of any suitable type. The output shafts ofthe transmissions 26 and 27 are connected in driving relation toconveyors 24 and 24 respectively so that an operator may independentlyvary the speed of travel of pipe sections on either of the conveyors 24or 24' as may be desired. Thus, it is often preferred to cause the pipesections to approach and leave the cabinet 15 at relatively high speedwhile passing through the cabinet at a relatively slow speed, and thismay be accomplished with the present apparatus by appropriatemanipulation of the transmissions 26 and 27 as will be understood.

In the practical and economical operation of abrasive cleaning apparatusof the type herein contemplated it is necessary to recover the spentabrasive shot for subsequent reuse, and this of course necessitatesseparation of the shot from dirt, scale and other foreign matter whichcollects in the cabinet 15. Accordingly, it is common practice .toprovide a suitable elevator device 28, comprising an elongated verticalduct 29 having a continuous bucket type conveyor belt 30 therein, whichoperates to collect the spent abrasive and refuse from the cabinet,raise the same substantially above the cabinet and supply hopper 19therefor so that separation of the abrasive and subsequent deposit ofthe same in the hopper may be accomplished. Of course, it is possible toutilize other procedures for separation of the abrasive shot, but allsuch procedures contemplate elevation of at least the shot so that thesame may be deposited in the hopper 19.

The specific apparatus employed for separating the shot from the refusecarried along therewith forms no part of the present invention and willtherefore not be described in detail. However by way of generaldescription the apparatus may comprise, in addition to the elevatingmechanism 28, a centrifugal device, not shown, positioned at or adjacentthe upper end of the duct 29 which device is adapted to act upon theheterogeneous mixture of mateit t rials to eiIect a separation thereofand to direct the separated materials into separate outlet passages.Thus, it is contemplated that reusable :abrasive shot will be directedrearwardly of the duct 29 into the rear portion of a hoodlike enclosure34, the hood having an opening in its bottom wall communicating with thehopper 19 whereby the separated shot particles are discharged directlyinto such hopper and retained therein for subsequent reuse. Heavyforeign particles are directed into the forward portion of the hood 34and into a receiving bin 31 located beneath such forward portion wherebysuch foreign particles may be collected :and periodically disposed of.Lighter foreign particles are directed into a receiving bin 32 openinginto the 'upper forward portion of the hood 34. And these particles arealso collected and periodically disposed of.

To eliminate dust and other fine matter it is conven tional to provide asuitable filter cabinet 33 which communicates with the upper end portionof the elevator mechanism 28 through an air system comprising ducts 35and 36 and blower 37, the latter being powered by motor 38. In theordinary operation of the apparatus, air is circulated rapidly throughthis system, causing dust and other fine lightweight particles to beremoved from the elevator mechanism 28 and carried to the filter cabinet33 wherein there is conventionally provided suitable means, not shown,for filtering and collecting such dust for subsequent removal atperiodical intervals.

Upon inspection of Figure .l of the drawing it will .be immediatelyobserved that while the bulk of the com ponents of the shot blast plantare positioned fairly within the normal outlines of the trailerstructure the elevator mechanism extends considerably above the otherparts of the apparatus and also considerably above practical clearancelimits so that transportation of the apparatus in the thus assembledrelation would be wholly impractical if not impossible. Accordingly Ihave provided for the convenient disassembly of the apparatus to theextent that the elevator mechanism may be positioned well within normalclearance limits so that the apparatus may be transported as desired.

Thus, referring now to Figure 4, it will be observed that the mechanism28 is secured to the trailer 10 by means of a pivotal support 39 whichconnects the mechanism 28 adjacent the lower end thereof. And preferablythe support 39 is located somewhat above the lower end extremity of theduct 29 so that the latter normally extends downwardly through asuitable opening provided in the bed 13 of the trailer. This arrangementpermits the entire plant apparatus to be supported at a lower levelwhereby to improve the general stability of the combined mobile unit aswill be understood. This factor is important in that increased roadspeeds are thus provided and transportation of the unit from place toplace is facilitated accordingly.

By pivotally supporting the elevator mechanism in the manner abovedescribed it is possible, in preparation of moving the mobile unit to anew location, to pivot the entire mechanism 28 forwardly into theposition shown in broken lines in Figure 1, wherein the mechanism iswholly or substantially wholly within the peripheral confines of thetrailer 10. The described mounting arrangement of course contemplatescertain features of construction which provide additional and more rigidsupport for the mechanism 28 when the same is in operative position,which means are of a generally quickly disconnectible type, and otherarrangements, also of a disconnectible type for providing operativecommunication between the elevator mechanism and the blast cabinet 15and filter cabinet 33.

For example, to assist in supporting the elevator mechanism 28 inoperative position I have secured rearwardly extending arms 40 to thehood 34, which arms are adapted to engage the upper surface of a rigidsupporting platform '41 extending upwardly from the blast cabinet 15.Bolts 42 are employed to releasably fasten the arms 40 to the support 41so that the mechanism 28 may be easily secured in place or released forretraction as may be the case.

As additional support for the mechanism 28 I may utilize one of thecross beam members 43 of a superstructure framework 44 which isconstructed on the trailer for the primary purpose of strengthening theshell 11 so that the same may be adequate for supporting the relativelyheavy cleaning plant in travel over rough terrain. As illustrated inFigure 3, the cross beam member 43 is removably secured to thesuperstructure 44 by means of bolts 45. And the arrangement, asillustrated in Figure l, is such that the beam 43 supports the mechanism28 against pivotal movement into a retracted position as long as thesame is bolted in place. However, to ready the mobile unit for travelthe beam 43 may be readily removed. as will be apparent.

A second cross beam 46, provided for general strengthening and support,also must be removed in order to pivot the elevator mechanism 28 intoretracted position, and this member may be secured in the same manner asmember 43 as will be readily apparent.

As shown in Figure 4, the elevator mechanism 28 is provided adjacent itslower end with a short duct portion 47 leading upwardly toward thedownwardly directed duct 18 leading from the blast cabinet 15. The ducts47 and 18 are arranged to be spaced from each other when the apparatusis in assembled relation so that there will be no interferencetherebetween when the elevator mechanism 28 is pivoted between operativeand retracted positions. Thus, to complete the passage between thecabinet and elevator 28 I provide a separable coupling 49 which normallyconnects the ducts 47 and 18, but which may be readily removed to permitretraction of the mechanism 28.

Suitable removable connections, not shown, are also provided for each ofthe air ducts 35 and 36 so that the same may be disconnected anddisassembled from the mechanism 28 to permit retraction of the same.

To assist in raising and lowering the elevator 23 when necessary I haveprovided a winch device 48 which is mounted on the rigid support 41. Achain of flexible cable 49 connects the winch 48 and elevator 28. Powermeans, not shown, may be employed, if desired, to operate the winch.

Located at the extreme forward end of the trailer 10 and mountedtransversely with respect thereto is a conventional electric powergenerating device 50 comprising a gas or oil powered engine coupled withan electric generator. This apparatus is utilized to supply electricpower for operating the various electric motors which are employed in mycleaning unit. The equipment may thus be operated independently ofexternal sources of electric power as is often necessary in normal useof the apparatus.

It will be noted in respect to the apparatus herein described that atrailer of the type contemplated i. e. the type commonly used fortransporting a plurality of automobiles, is, when reconstructed in themanner taught by the invention, admirably suited for combination with anabrasive blast cleaning plant to form a self-contained mobile cleaningunit. Thus, in trailers of this type it is common to locate the wheels12 substantially toward the rear. And I may conveniently locate theheavy cleaning plan apparatus over the wheels to thereby obtain afavorable loading of the trailer. Since these trailers are normally ofsubstantial length it is possible, with the blast plant apparatuspositioned over the wheels, to pivot the elongated elevator mechanism 28into a substantially horizontal retracted position within the confinesof the trailer so that the entire apparatus may be convenientlytransported from place to place; a conventional semi-tractor truck beingutilized for this purpose as will be understood.

For a cleaning plant of adequate size for processing pipe of varioussizes up to in the order of twelve inches in diameter a standardautomotive trailer provides ample space to house the entire plant,including the forwardly extending retractor elevator mechanism, andnormally there is sufficient additional space to mount a moderatelysized electric generating plant and to store most or all of the conveyorapparatus 24 and 24 when the same is not in use.

Another advantageous feature of the invention resides in the pivotalmounting of the elevator mechanism 28 at a point spaced above its lowerend extremity so that the components of the cleaning plant may bepositioned as low as possible to improve the stability of the unit onthe road. This construction combined with the normal low suspension oftrailers of the type contemplated provides a wholly satisfactoryarrangement for a mobile cleaning unit.

It will be understood that the pivotal mounting of the elevator at apoint spaced from its lower end extremity so that the lower end portionprojects downwardly through the bed of the trailer does not interferewith the portability of the unit since the portion of the elevator whichextends below the bed is retracted upwardly when the elevator is pivotedinto horizontal position. And if necessary an excavation may be preparedto receive the lower end of the elevator if the same projects below thelower edge of the wheels 12. Such excavation would, of course, beadditional to that shown in Figure l which is sometimes provided so thatthe cleaning unit is positioned as close as possible to ground level tofacilitate handling of pipes.

It should be understood, however, that the single embodiment of myinvention herein disclosed and specifically described is intended to, berepresentative only. Reference should therefore be had to the appendedclaim in determining the full spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

A self-contained mobile pipe cleaning unit comprising in combination amovable trailer-type vehicle having a highly elongated load supportingportion including an elongated load supporting bed, a plurality ofsupporting wheels positioned at the sides of said bed adjacent therearward end thereof and having axes of rotation above the level of saidbed, an abrasive blast plant comprising a blasting cabinet and anelongated normally vertically disposed elevating mechanism for carryingabrasive material from the lower to the upper end of said cabinet, saidblasting cabinet and elevator mechanism being positioned on said bedsubstantially between said wheels, said elevating mechanism beingpositioned adjacent to and immediately forward of said blasting cabinet,means mounting said entire elevating mechanism for pivotal movement onsaid bed about an axis transverse and in the same plane to the principalaxis of said bed, said bed having an opening therein intermediate itsends for receiving the lower end of said elevating mechanism, meansincluding said blasting cabinet and a rigid superstructure on said loadsupporting portion for rigidly securing said elevating mechanism and forconnecting said elevating mechanism and said cabinet in operativerelation when said mechanism is in a vertical position, and saidelevation mechanism resting on and generally directly supported by saidbed in the inoperative and horizontal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

